Soap bubble toy



April 1966 R. ANDERSEN ETAL 3,246,418

SOAP BUBBLE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1963 DONALD A. STAP ROBERT ANDERSEN April 1966 R. ANDERSEN ETAL 3,246,418

SOAP BUBBLE TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1963 8 4 2 l m w B 3 u 3 M r ti 1% u .2 n 2 a M w FIG.7

INVENTOR. DONALD A. STAPLE BY ROBERT ANDERSEN United States Patent 3,246,418 SOAP BUBBLE TOY Robert Andersen, 1243 Manor Drive, El Cajon, Calif, and Donald Albert Staple, 8833 Hazeldon Drive, Santee, Calif.

Filed July 22, 1963, Ser. No. 296,680 1 Claim. (Cl. 468) This invention relates to a soap bubble emitt-ing toy and when mounted upon the handlebar of a bicycle, bubbles are emitted while in forward motion. This toy can also be mounted on the front or rear forks of the bicycle at the option of the cyclist.

The object of the invention is simplicity of design whereby the toy is inexpensive to manufacture and yet it is completely foolproof for use by young children; the hubble producing toy contemplates economical usage of bubble fluid and complete ease of cleaning after use.

Another object is to provide for a continuous emission of bubbles from the toy without interfering with the control and manageability of the bicycle while in motion, thus not interfering with the safety of the cyclist.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawing a form which presently is preferred, it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements as shown.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the toy.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the toy.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the toy mounted on the handlebar of a bicycle.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a side elevation of the toy partly broken away revealing the mechanical and structural elements of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an end view similar to FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the toy.

Referring now to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bubble emitting toy 10 of the illustrated invention can be mounted upon the right or left hand side of the handlebars, or on the left or right front or rear wheel forks of a bicycle.

The toy 10 may be manufactured in plastic, sheetmetal, wood or the like, and comprises an aerodynamically designed casing 12 which can be made as one or two piece assembly. The casing 12 is provided with venting ports 13 which are strategically placed with reference to the venturi inner pressure chamber 14 and airstream exit throat 15.

The bubble solution reservoir 16 is formed by the venturi inner pressure chamber 14 and the casing 12. Forward motion of the bicycle forces air into the venturi inner pressure chamber 14 by the rotation of the multibladed air-screw 18, shown preferably with 12 blades. The airstream exit throat 15, being much smaller in cross-sectional area than the intake 17 of casing 12, the air will pass through the dipper ring 19 at a greater velocity than it entered. The volume of air has been reduced by the venting ports 13 which consequently ensures prevention of pressure build-up which will stop rotation of airscrew 18. This airscrew is mounted on a shaft 20 which is journaled in front bearing 21. The bearing is mounted on web support 22 which in turn is an integral part of the venturi inner pressure chamber 14. The shaft 20 is also supported at the rear bearing 23 which is also a integral part of the venturi inner pressure chamber 14.

A two ring dipper 19, comprising a rod having a ring at each end, is mounted at its midpoint on shaft 20 and is positioned in front of rear vertical wall 24 of solution reservoir 16. A U shaped opening 25 is provided in the vertical wall 24 to ensure free and unobstructed passage of bubbles being formed at venturi inner pressure chamber exit throat 15 by the rotation of two ring dipper 19 on shaft 20. A further assurance of free passage of bubbles from the exit throat 15 upwards and away from the bubble toy is a U shaped opening 26 in the simulated delta shaped wing 27.

The toy 10 is secured in position upon the handlebars or a fork leg of the bicycle by a clamp ring 29 which circumferates the handlebar 34 or the wheel fork and a universal position support bracket 32 can be rotated on support rod 28 to a desired position, then tightened by wing or square nut 33 or the like. Tightening of bracket 29 on the handlebar or wheel forks is achieved by a machine screw thread form on the end of support rod 28 and use of hexagon, wing, square nuts or the like.

The operation of the toy is as follows:

The rider of the bicycle pours soap bubble solution into reservoir 16 between exit throat 15 and vertical wall 24, after positioning the toy 10 on the bicycle. The user then starts moving forward on the bicycle with the result that air starts moving through casing 12. After passing through multi-bladed airscrew 18, the air is compressed, with the result that the air escapes through the exit throat 15 at a greater velocity, to provide a state of balance at the average speed of the bicycle. The venting ports 13 allow air to escape from the venturi inner pres sure chamber 14 to the outside air. With the air being discharged through the exit throat 15 and shaft 20 rotating due to the continuous turning of multi-bladed airscrew 18, the two ring dipper 19 in turn is rotated passing through the soap bubble solution and in doing so, a film of soap bubble solution is deposited on the rings of the dipper 19. Continuing to rotate, the dipper 19 entering the throat 15 and being subjected to the air in the throat, causes a continuous stream of bubbles to be created and blown off and through U shaped opening 25 and away from toy due to aerodynamic lines guiding the airflow over the toy.

We claim:

A bubble toy comprising a venturi inner pressure chamber flared at its forward end and narrowed at its rearward end, an outer casing, said casing having means for securing said toy to a moving vehicle, said casing having a soap bubble solution reservoir compartment at one end, a centrally positioned shaft journalled within said casing and longitudinally aligned with said chamber, a dipper comprising means fixed to said shaft bearing at least one soap bubble film receiving ring communicating with said rearward end of said chamber, said ring being adapted to pass through said solution compartment as the shaft is rotated, a multi-bladed airscrew mounted on said shaft forwardly of said compartment, said airscrew being adapted to rotate with the forward movement of the vehicle resulting in an air-flow passing through the venturi inner pressure chamber thereby rotating the ring so that soap bubbles are emitted through the ring and out of the casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,862,320 12/1958 Mayo 46-8 XR 3,100,947 8/1963 Hellman 46-8 References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,412,732 12/ 1946 Holman. 2,547,825 4/1951 King. 2,805,515 9/1957 Gans.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

